Greece's Golden Dawn cries foul over links to "criminal" group

By
Euronews

Supporters of Greece’s far right Golden Dawn party made their voices heard as three party members appealed against accusations of belonging to a criminal group.

Charges denied by the party’s spokesman and deputy Ilias Kasidiaris.
He believes its members are being persecuted while “terrorists and crooked politicians” involved in scandals are free.

“The terrorists are walking free, the scamming politicians of PASOK (Panhellenic Socialist Movement) and New Democracy (ruling centre-right political party) are walking free. Not a single lawmaker or minister has been called to be questioned for the scandals, the pay offs and the corruption. The only ones that are dragged illegally to jails and questioned are the lawmakers of Golden Dawn. We hope that Greek justice will prevail despite the illegal political pressures it is under,” he said.

But lawyer Christos Gramatidis for human rights group Greek Helsinki Monitor, has accused Golden Dawn of hypocrisy: “Golden Dawn is party that systematically slanders, the European Court (of human rights) it has named it an instrument of the Jews, of the new order. So it is ironic that these people are now invoking the protection of the European Courts, but this is the majesty of democracy. “

Nine of Golden Dawn’s 18 lawmakers including its leader, have been charged with participating or leading a criminal group, which could thwart a bid by the British National Party to form a Europe-wide far right coalition for the European elections.